alyssamma

Where are these places in Europe where you surrender your passport for the entire hotel stay?

Again, didn't say it *never* happened. Said it wasn't common. Moscow, yeah, lol.

Thanks, again, this makes sense. Was questioning having passports taken for the entire cruise...

Yeah, I think it's very uncommon. I've never stayed anyplace that made me give up my passport for the *entire* time. If you mean taking it and giving it back later that day, then yeah. But never for the entire time. My experience in Africa is somewhat limited - only 2 countries - but still never had it happen.

I wouldn't say "lots". I've been to almost every country in Europe and never given my passport up like that. I've done some middle east and Africa and also never had that happen. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I just wouldn't say "lots".

Thanks...and this makes 100% sense. It sounded before like they were collected at the beginning of the cruise and you didn't get them until the end...that didn't sound right. But turning them in before a port and getting them back afterwards makes 100% sense.

So can you explain how it works? I've done a lot of world traveling, but not on cruises so am unfamiliar with this. Is it for the entire duration? When and how do you get it back?

Does anyone know if the Voyager discount for laundry applies to this or is that only for individual items?

I'd say I couldn't believe it if the MSC webpage didn't have problems.

This is interesting and I've never heard of it. Is it truly for the entire cruise or just for a period? When and how do you get them back?

Not sure who said it first (certainly wasn't Friedman) but it's an old Russian proverb. My favorite variation on it it: A mouse will always find free cheese in a mousetrap, but I never saw one that was very happy about it.

That's crazy. I'd be really pissed about that.

Again, not doubting the others, but I just returned last week from a cruise in Norway. No provider scanned anything of mine. I went to the theater on the ship where they asked my room number and name. Then they gave me a sticker, and put me in a group. When I left the ship, the tour provider saw the sticker and put me in the correct line.

The *app* I can understand.

Just got off a HAL cruise last week. Took 2 ship excursions. No one looked at my keys. Not only did I have paper (placed in my room), but it was on the app. Regardless, they only took my room number and name. I've taken maybe a dozen cruises since the restart, and again, no one has ever asked for my key.

Wonder if that's a Japan thing...I've never had any tour provider scan my room key ever. Even ship tours. And that is for all cruise lines.

I have sailed 2x with the upgraded voucher...all I had to do was connect. I'm not sure what you mean by "on sale", but if you mean the *real* on sale (i.e., $10 instead of $10/day) then that is what I used. I'm sure the other voucher (without the pricing mistake) works exactly the same. In fact, if you call X and ask what you have, they'll just say Premium. There were some CC posts that indicated you needed to go to the iLounge, but myself - and others - who used the voucher didn't have to do anything.

Same for me...but this was Europe also...

No need to do anything. You'll just have it once you connect.

One other thing to consider is price...I priced out the Viking trip and it's almost 3x what I paid for the Princess trip. Not saying it isn't worth it...just saying cost-wise there is a huge difference. I haven't been on this Princess cruise but people seem to love it. On my roll call there are many people who are doing it for the 3rd and 4th time. Others I know have said it's the best cruise they've taken.

Great, please send me a check so I can fly to Tahiti to take one of these small cruises.

Ditto...mid 50's for me and I'm on that cruise and taking a 21 day in July also...

Unfortunately they can no longer sail to Bora Bora because of regulations. Fiji has been substituted, so still Tahiti (2 ports) and now Fiji (2 ports)...no overnights (well, Papetee is until 4am or so).

Everyone I have spoken to who has done this has said it was the best, or at least one of the best, cruises they've ever done. We sail end of Oct...can't wait...